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Each state or area is graded on a five-star scale, with one star indicating
a particularly weak crop and five stars a particularly strong one. The
ratings are based on the level of talent a place generally produces, so
Southern California isn't graded on the same scale as Alaska.

New York doesn't have a first-rounder but claims partial credit for Richmond righthander Tim Stauffer, a Saratoga Springs High product who should be one of the top four or five players in this year's draft. Some scouts are calling Estee Harris the best hitting prospect ever from Long Island.

Estee Harris, of
The 6-foot, 180-pound Harris might have the best pure tools of any player in the Northeast. He has quick hands and the ball jumps off his bat. His speed is near the top of the chart. He's been clocked in 6.4 seconds over 60 yards--though that reading has been disputed by some scouts. His power is average and should bump up a notch as he fills out. He hit .431 this spring with six homers. The one tool Harris lacks is arm strength, which may keep him out of the first two rounds. His arm is well-below-average--just a 30 on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale. He has a funky arm motion and his throws have little velocity or carry. He's described as player with a left-field arm, center-field range and right-field power. He has the kind of tools scouts can dream on. Few players have as much projection. He has made a college commitment to Lamar.

Others to Watch

 RHP Chris Schutt has the best shot of cracking the top five rounds among college players. He moved onto the radar screen last fall when the Major League Scouting Bureau put a big number (55 on the 20-80 scale) on him based on a workout, and he justified it this spring. Despite a 3-5 record, he posted a 1.89 ERA and averaged 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He led the Ivy League in strikeouts. He's not physical at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds and his fastball normally runs in the 88-90 mph range, but his power slider sets him apart. The pitch had more bite this year and acts like a knuckle-curve. He throws it confidently in any count. His command of all his pitches has gotten much better this year.

 After Harris, the high school player given the best chance of breaking into the first five rounds is projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pound RHP Ricky Brooks, tucked away in the western part of the state. His fastball normally is 87-88 mph and touches 92, and he has an idea how to spin a breaking ball. He has committed to East Carolina.

 Marist has one of the better college pitching staffs in the country and could have four pitchers drafted. The best of the lot is RHP Chuck Bechtel, who was 8-3, 1.29 with 94 strikeouts in 77 innings. He is a fifth-year senior under control to the Padres, who selected him in the 25th round of last year's draft. Bechtel sat out a year earlier in his career with Tommy John surgery and is 100 percent healthy again. Like all of Marist's pitchers, he has a good feel for pitching. He has two plus pitches: an 87-91 mph fastball that occasionally reaches 94 and an 85-86 mph slider. RHP Chris Homer (2-2, 1.46, seven saves)has the best stuff of the remaining members of the staff. One of the region's most effective closers the last two years, he has a 91-92 sinking fastball and plus slider. LHP Chris Tracz, Marist's career wins leader, has a better feel for pitching than Homer but only an 84-87 mph fastball. Crafty LHP Kevin Ool (5-1, 1.71)doesn't throw hard but should get a shot.

 LHP Brian Mattoon leads a contingent of three LeMoyne players who should be drafted. Mattoon wasn't picked in 2002 despite pitching well, but should go this year as a good senior pick. His best pitch is a fastball that touches 90. RHP Andy Weimar was 6-1, 0.57 with four saves, and recorded more than 20 wins and 20 saves in his career. He gets hitters out with a hard sinking fastball that induces a lot of ground balls. OF Kyle Brown's best tool is his speed. He covers a lot of ground in center field.

 Canadian OF Josh McCurdy is intriguing because of his 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame. He performed this year like never before, breaking single-season records at Niagara for home runs, stolen bases and RBIs while hitting .417-12-60.

 Travis Garcia has a prototype shortstop body at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, and is a slick fielder with average arm strength and hitting skills. His Iona teammate, C James Motte, has outstanding catch-and-throw skills but a questionable bat.

 St. John SS Mike Rozema was the Big East Conference's top hitter and was solid in the field, but he lacks the tools to be more than a fringe draft pick. OF Bill Graiser has two outstanding tools, speed and arm strength, but doesn't make enough contact. Sophomore-eligible RHP Joe Reid missed 2002 with Tommy John surgery and has rebounded to throw 90-91 mph with a high of 93. RHP Mike Tamulionis was drafted a year ago and has recovered from early arm soreness to throw 88-92 mph.

 A sleeper is 6-foot-4, 195-pound RHP Terry Engles, who popped up this spring throwing 90-94 mph. He was also seen at 84-85 as the nasty spring weather didn't allow him to get in a rhythm. Engles has no college options, so he could be an attractive budget pick in the first 10 rounds.

 Like Harris, lefthanded-hitting C Michael Ambort committed to Lamar. He has caught for only three years and needs work on his receiving, but has an accurate arm. He could develop into a top-flight receiver with proper instruction in college.

 RHP P.J. Zocchi is a polished high school pitcher who locates an 88-92 mph fastball well. His 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame will keep him out of the early rounds and likely deliver him to Clemson.

 Six-foot-4, 220-pound RHP/1B Chris Vasami is a Notre Dame recruit with a chance to play both ways for the Irish. His fastball tops at 91 mph, but he doesn't throw hard enough consistently for a team to buy him out of school.

 Ithaca High has two pitchers who attracted pro interest: 6-foot-3 LHP Chris Bilyk and 6-foot-5 RHP Casey Walsh. Bilyk's best pitch is a curve, while Walsh's is a fastball that peaked at 89.

 Briarcliffe JC has three possible draft picks. RHP Billy Weitzman, a Mets draft-and-follow, topped at 93 mph this spring. Six-foot-4, 215-pound LHP Jared Brown, passed over in 2002 but an Expos draft pick out of high school, has touched 91. SS Pasquale Antoniato hit better than .400 this spring.

Unusually bad spring weather affected the entire Eastern seaboard this spring, particularly New Jersey. The high school season normally doesn't start until April 1 anyway, but frozen fields, rain and snow pushed the season back almost two weeks. That will hurt the draft hopes of many Jersey players, with the notable exceptions of Eric Duncan and Thomas Pauly.

Eric Duncan, 3b
Duncan is the best New Jersey high school hitter to come along in years, and hit .533 with nine homers this spring. He has a mature approach to hitting and a quick, polished stroke with above-average power potential. He makes adjustments well for his age, though he's vulnerable to breaking balls. He's done an excellent job of improving his body over the last year. He added 15-20 pounds, all in the form of upper-body strength. He reminds scouts of Chipper Jones at the same stage of his development. He has passable third-base actions and an average arm, though he's destined to end up at first base or left field down the road. Duncan grew up in California before moving to New Jersey as an eighth-grader. He committed to Louisiana State, but that should be for leverage only as there's a good chance he'll go in the first round. The Yankees, among others, are attracted to his lefthanded power.

Possible Second-Fifth-Round Picks

Thomas Pauly, rhp
With ex-big leaguer Scott Bradley as coach, Princeton is building a reputation for churning out top-notch pitching prospects. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Pauly is this year's contribution, and a possible sandwich pick or second-rounder. Pauly has a quick, resilient arm and was used mostly as a closer this spring--often working three games on a weekend. Throwing primarily a fastball that ranged from 93-95 mph, he averaged 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings, while going 6-1, 1.25 with six saves. He occasionally mixed in an 83-84 slider. He'll need to develop a changeup if he has aspirations of becoming a starter in pro ball. Pauly threw 83-84 when he enrolled at Princeton. He was a swimmer in high school and has worked hard to fill out his body and get stronger.

Others to Watch

 RHP Elvys Quezada was a 15th-round pick of the Mets in 2002 and didn't sign because he believed he deserved to go higher. He may prove his point, as he's expected to be one of the first seniors to go. Even though he went just 3-5, 5.43 this spring, he created a lot of interest with an 83-85 mph slider--his out pitch--and a fastball that topped out at 94. He projects as a set-up man or closer.

 LHP Chris Noonan stepped in as Seton Hall's closer, replacing all-Big East Conference performer Isaac Pavlik. He was on track to break the school record for saves while touching 90 and demonstrating a good feel for a breaking ball.

 Six-foot-6, 190-pound RHP James Hoey led Rider in wins, ERA and strikeouts. His fastball topped out at 91 mph and he showed better command of his breaking stuff.

 LHP Jeff Goldwater is the top prospect in New Jersey's traditionally strong NCAA Division III ranks. His fastball was generally in the mid-80s, but scouts see upside in his 6-foot-3 frame.

 RHP/SS Michael Kelly often played shortstop and came on to close games for Monmouth. He is an above-average defender with a weak bat, and scouts see his future on the hill. His fastball registers in the mid-80s.

 Catching is an unusually deep position in New Jersey, both in college and high school. Michael St. Martine has been catching little more than a year and already has excellent defensive skills. He's a below-average hitter, which will hurt his chances in the draft. Some scouts like 6-foot-4, 240-pound Tim Lahey better because he has more power. His 11 homers led the Ivy League. Evan Baubles and Josh Corn are both good athletes behind the plate, with arm strength and power. Baubles has limited college options, while Corn is a top student and plans to attend Stanford.

 2B Eric Young has a good pedigree. He's the son of Brewers second baseman Eric Young, a 12-year major league veteran. Like his dad, Young has above-average speed. His bat has a long way to go and he has below-average instincts for a middle infielder. Young is a dual-sport athlete and committed to Villanova, where he plans to play both football and baseball.

 3B Tim Edmeads is the best high school prospect in south Jersey, with power his most advanced tool.

 Crafty 6-foot-2, 160-pound LHP Ryan Lobban has a good feel for pitching, but only a mid-80s fastball.

 Six-foot-4, 180-pound RHP D.J. Cunningham put himself on the map in early May when he struck out Duncan twice on curveballs with a lot of scouts on hand. His fastball tops out at 87. He'll likely play at Seton Hall.

 RHP Dane Mason was one of New Jersey's top high school pitchers in 2000. Three years and three schools later, he's back throwing 91-92 mph. He's had a history of arm and off-field problems.

Maryland has produced its share of talent in recent years, from high school righthanders Bubba Nelson (2000) and Gavin Floyd (2001), to University of Maryland shortstop John McCurdy (2002). The talent is just average this year, but Hagerstown junior righthander Nick Adenhart is the No. 1-ranked player in the country in the 2004 high school class. For this year, West Virginia has the best talent in the area.

Anthony Whittington, lhp
Whittington has plus-plus life on his fastball, which reached 94-95 mph early in the season but slipped to the 84-90 range as he tired under a heavy workload. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Whittington already has a man's frame and conjures images of Steve Carlton. He has a long, quick arm action that makes him projectable, but he's unrefined and doesn't have a good feel for pitching. He throws every pitch from a different arm slot and lacks a consistent second offering. His breaking ball is slurvy. He'll need two seasons in Rookie ball to smooth out the rough edges. Whittington often started two games a week and made four starts over one 10-day stretch. Still, he could be a premium pick, possibly as high as the third round. A volunteer fireman in high school, he committed to Oklahoma State because of its fire management major.

Daryl Thompson, rhp
Thompson wasn't well known entering the 2003 season, but soon had scouts flocking to see his athleticism and 90 mph-plus velocity. Lean, wiry and loose-limbed, Thompson draws comparisons to Oil Can Boyd for his pitching style and appearance. His mechanics and easy, loose arm also are reminiscent of Dewon Brazelton, the third overall pick in the 2001 draft. He's raw on the mound as he drops and drives through his delivery, reaching down and back to hurl his fastball consistently 90-94 mph. Thompson's fastball has plus movement and he maintains his velocity well into games. He also shows a solid feel for his breaking ball. Thompson showcases his changeup only in bullpen sessions. By far the best athlete on his high school team, Thompson played shortstop when he didn't pitch and is a plus runner.

Aaron Laffey, lhp
Laffey pitched better every time out this spring and became a possible early-round selection. He has a quick arm with clean mechanics and can locate all three of his pitches: an 85-87 mph fastball that reaches 91, a changeup and slider. He has a good feel for pitching, though his 6-foot, 180-pound build doesn't leave room for much projection. He's a good athlete who plays shortstop when he doesn't pitch and averaged 15-20 points for his high school basketball team. His father is a former teammate of Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone, which might put him higher on the Braves' draft board. The Braves are targeting lefthanded pitching. Laffey has committed to Virginia Tech and his pitching style reminds area scouts of Virginia Tech lefty Joe Saunders, a first-round pick in 2002.

Others to Watch

 RHP Steve Schmoll became an overnight sensation this spring at Maryland as a fifth-year senior, and his rise ranks as one of the year's more unlikely draft stories. He was a high school catcher who tried to walk on at Maryland as a freshman and was cut. He built a mound in his backyard to learn how to pitch and later made the Terrapins as a pitcher. He wasn't drafted a year ago and changed his arm angle after discovering he had better control and deception from a sidearm slot, while messing around during a bullpen session with former Maryland closer Ken Beck. Moved from the rotation to a closer's role, he struck out 119 in 83 innings, while walking just 19. He threw his fastball, slider and changeup for strikes from arm angles that ranged from submarine to straight over the top. His fastball peaked at 93 and his slider was effective against lefthanded hitters. Schmoll also worked quickly and confidently while pitching exclusively from the stretch. Scouts say he demonstrated as good a feel for pitching as anyone in the region outside of Richmond's Tim Stauffer. He's projected as a closer or set-up man as a pro. He likely would be a fifth- or sixth-rounder, but as a fifth-year senior he was eligible to sign after Maryland lost in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. Schmoll is a biological resources engineering major and is considering medical school.

 RHP Matt Michael is the only Delaware player projected to crack the top 10 rounds. A two-way player in college, Michael played mostly third base as a sophomore and saw time at first and DH this year. But scouts are interested in his arm. He generated 93 mph velocity on the rare occasions he pitched, but couldn't crack the Blue Hens rotation. He lacks command of his fastball and it has little movement. Michael's curveball also rates below-average. Michael's power arm and athleticism led to his being drafted by the Twins in the 21st round out of high school. He went to Old Dominion before transferring to Delaware. Michael still has screws in his elbow from a surgery he had five years ago. There are also questions about his desire and determination. He is anxious to sign and could be a cheap pick.

 At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, RHP Greg Conden has a nice frame to go with his 88-92 mph riding fastball. His curveball and changeup are above-average college pitches. He's been a big-game pitcher and holds the George Washington record with 32 career wins. Conden's mechanics are sound for a pitcher his size, and he maintains good body control throughout his delivery. After a 6-3, 3.68 senior year with 67 strikeouts and 22 walks over 64 innings, Conden would go cheap as a senior sign between rounds 10 and 15.

 Six-foot-2, 190-pound LHP Joe Wilson drew late draft interest this spring as he pushed his fastball up to 92-93 mph. He throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, which hurts his curveball but helps his slider. He's a long, lanky and athletic pitcher who could be drafted by the fifth round and is signable.

 LHP Matt Foster got a lot of press this spring as he looked for ways to pursue his baseball career while still fulfilling his three-year service commitment to the Navy. He jumped into prospect status last summer at the All-American Amateur Baseball Association World Series in Johnstown, Pa., when his fastball was clocked at 93 mph. He hasn't reached that velocity since. He was around 90 with plus sinking action this spring, and struggled to control his fastball and changeup while demonstrating little feel for a breaking ball. He would merit being drafted around the 10th round, but a violent delivery combined with the $125,000 it would take to buy out his military commitment makes him too much of a risk for most teams.

 A former track athlete at Clemson, OF Alex Turner is a plus-plus runner whose speed rates just a tick below Virginia prep star Kenny Lewis, the fastest player in the draft. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Turner has a projectable but skinny frame, and the rest of his tools are below-average.

 RHP Jason DiAngelo, whose father Matt is a Mets associate scout, is an arm strength pitcher with an 87-90 mph fastball that tops out at 92.

 Senior OF Jared Rine enjoyed a breakout year offensively, carrying a .400 average into mid-May, and answered the biggest question about his game. He's a plus runner who projects to hit for average and power with wood.

 3B Tim McCabe, West Virginia's career home run leader, has a long, loopy swing. He was a 25th-round pick out of high school and figures to go in the same area four years later.

 A 40th-round pick of the Astros last year out of a Pennsylvania high school, LHP Adam Yesalusky throws his fastball at 86-89 mph with decent command.

 RHP Kevin Marrie was Maryland's No. 1-ranked high school player entering his senior year but went backward this spring. He topped out around 90 last summer and spent most of the spring in the mid-80s. Marrie also doesn't have a useable second pitch.

 RHP Dan Richardson shaped up as Delaware's top high school player before he hurt his arm in a November showcase and had Tommy John surgery. He threw 90-91 mph with a quick arm action prior to his injury. RHP Adrian Santiago assumed the role of Delaware's best pitcher when Richardson went down. He throws three pitches for strikes, including a fastball that ranges from 86-90 mph.

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